Reserve time/upgrade time @ Trans States

[rigger]

Any info will be helpful on upgrade time (based on today) and reserve time in the jet (based on today). They say they are hiring 12-14 a month until mid year. Sounds like attrition only? Any "new" lines/planes on the horizon? Also What base is quickest to get off reserve?


Please Let's not get into the Go-jets discussion (read fight) Im coming here for Trans States not Go whoever! We will all get to fight that battle later in the year. Help with what you know (or speculate) about today please. no emotion needed just your knowledge!

Trying to plan my QOL or lack of, and give the MRS an idea of the hell (or heaven)I have in store for us!

Thanks folks

 

[millhouse21]

I believe that any hiring we are doing right now is only for attrition. Also, I'm pretty sure that this is all FO attrition; there hasn't been a jet upgrade class for several months. Also haven't heard anything about new aircraft or routes coming up.
Upgrade time...Who knows. If you just looked at current rates of upgrades for the last few months you'd get a ridiculously long time but it probably won't be that bad. Anything like new routes/aircraft or the 70 seaters ending up on our list could dradtically reduce the upgrade time. Of course, something bad like US Air folding could extend it. So, who knows. Oh, and I'd say the same thing about reserve time except that it will obviously be less than upgrade!!

 

[cargoflyr69]

Rigger-

What the HeII happened to that Stearman? Shame to see such a plane like that. I don't know much about Trans States except that a few of our Shuttle America boys have jumped ship recently to go "Skiing"

 

[Frank Bama]

They are starting jet upgrade classes in March again. New Hires have been on reserve for about 4 months before they can hold a line.

 

[rigger]

Rigger-

What the HeII happened to that Stearman? Shame to see such a plane like that. I don't know much about Trans States except that a few of our Shuttle America boys have jumped ship recently to go "Skiing"

Hey cargo

Lost the engine very shortly after T/O in the turn to X wind. Both of us walked away! what a Tank!

 

[cargoflyr69]

Glad you all walked away. The Stearman IS a tank. They don't built 'em like they used to! Sorry to hijak the thread, just had to know the story with your avitar. Good luck with Waterski!

 

[smokey999]

When I started spring 04, there were a few large classes right behind me. I sat reserve 3 weeks, my first bid I held a build up. I consider myself very lucky, the guys hired just three months later sat reserve for 4 months. I hear "rumors" we may be running a few larger classes this spring, so maybe you'll luck out. As far as upgrade, TSA does seem to have a higher than normal attrition rate, I think that has to do with a lot high time CQFO's that have moved on to greener pastures. Also people tend to get fed up with the atmosphere here and think it will better at some other regional. Good luck to ya, and if you live in STL give CHQ a try as well.

 

[Black Water Dog]

I believe that any hiring we are doing right now is only for attrition. Also, I'm pretty sure that this is all FO attrition; there hasn't been a jet upgrade class for several months. Also haven't heard anything about new aircraft or routes coming up.

Yep, 32 finished the May FO class and about half are gone.

 

[jtf]

I talked with someone in management a couple of weeks ago and he said about 140 pilots left last year alone. He said it was mostly lateral movement and I think that those who failed out of training are also included in that number. I would say that 10%, at the most, of those who left went to bigger, better equipment/ pay.

 

[acaTerry]

I've been here since spring. I hate the pay, even Mesa pays better on comparable equipment. Reserve is not too bad, but then again I am pretty high on the reserve end. The schedulers, from my experience, have been pretty good. They don't wait until the last second and make you hustle when a trip comes up. And they seem to be willing to work with you when something needs a little tweaking, like a change of RSV duty on. At ACA, we had the meanest schedulers in the business. Perhaps this is why I seem to like ours here at Trash States.
Jet flying on the midwest side is great, 3 legs, sometimes 4 and you are done for the day. Average duty day is only around 10-12 hours with 5-6 hours flight time (pay) and the overnights are usually 14+ hours. The props are another story. I did my time in 32's and 41's at ACA, but the props here are something I will let the victims tell you about.
Management pilots for the most part have been good for me to deal with (I have avoided the "one" I have been warned about), and the pilot group is great.
But in all honesty, it comes down to this: flying is a JOB at the airlines. The afterglow goes away after about a month or two. Then what have you got to show for it? Since I started last spring, I had $6024.00 to show for it on my W2. I like the people I work with, the ERJ is a fine airplane, and I seem to like the culture around here. But the fact is that Hulas has no intention of EVER paying his employees a wage that can support a family. And as an FO you are looking at a looooong, broke future her before upgrade. It is this reason alone that I will bail the day something better comes along.
If you HAVE to take your lumps, take them at SKW, CHQ or some other airline that at least pays a little to an FO who is years from upgrade.
Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

 

[smokey999]

"The props are another story. I did my time in 32's and 41's at ACA, but the props here are something I will let the victims tell you about."

I'm one of the "victims". The only problem with the 41 is you have to really work your butt off to break guarantee. QOL on the prop is better than the jet, unless you're in the top 10 percent. Most duty days in the 41 are about 7 hours, home every other night, tons of half days(which are great for commuters), and trading and "tweaking" trips is a breeze due to the fact that every turn you are back in STL.

 

[acaTerry]

Now that's a suprise to me. My crashpad lord is a 41 CA and has some pretty interesting stories he comes home with.
In any case, I like the ERJ better...too much work in those 41's.

 

[smokey999]

Probably has to do with different priorities. I'm content getting a 50 hour buildup line if I can be home more often. It allows me to work my second job. If I were a CA looking for that all important PIC time, I would go nuts on the prop.

 

[acaTerry]

That's the beauty of my spot near the top of the reserve list...I only fly enough to keep liking it. Now if I just didn't live in PHX...

 

[TSA ERJ]

Trans States had a bad reputation mostly due to our own pilots. Bitching and complaining is the official past time at TSA. Guys here tell it like it is and aren't concerned with the image of the company like many others. That being said TSA is not a bad place. I don't have any complaints that all of my buddies at the other regionals don't have. We just seem to do it louder. Someone posted earlier that our payscales are even lower than Mesa, that just isn't so. We are just a little higher, but higher none the less across the board on a 5 year old contract compared to one that is what, 18 months old. There is some attrition among the F/O's but it's not because this is such a terrible place. They realize there is little upward movement in the industry and continue looking for quality life, etc. Most of them took the first offer and are now looking to get on with an airline with domiciles closer to home, easier commute, different equipment and others. Just keep your options open and don't let some of these guys scare you away from Trans States.

 

[Palmtree Pilot]

These guys are only referring to St. Loser based 41s. In RIC there are about 22-25 lines a month on the bids and the line avg. is about 85hrs a month. 41 flying is pretty good with 8 a/c and maybe a few going away, not sure if they will replace them with STL a/c or not. I know an FO that just started holding a hard line after about 9-11 months with reserve and build-up lines. City pairings seem to be changing about every other month with all the US schedule changes in PIT and BWI.



Palmtree

 

[acaTerry]

Someone posted earlier that our payscales are even lower than Mesa, that just isn't so.

Yes it is. Airlinepilotpay.com, and the contract they have, which I have seen, has slightly higher FO pay for comparable equipment (jet). I do not know about the prop.

 

[acaTerry]

These guys are only referring to St. Loser based 41s. In RIC there are about 22-25 lines a month on the bids and the line avg. is about 85hrs a month. 41 flying is pretty good with 8 a/c and maybe a few going away, not sure if they will replace them with STL a/c or not. I know an FO that just started holding a hard line after about 9-11 months with reserve and build-up lines. City pairings seem to be changing about every other month with all the US schedule changes in PIT and BWI.



Palmtree

I have no idea what is going on in the props except from my crashpadlord, who is a 41CA. STL jet flying is in my opinion the best flying in the company. I love where we go (except ORD) and the overnights are good.
And I love tilting the antenna DOWN to see. What a treat!
Anyway, we b1tch like nuts here b/c we hate Mr. Crabs, I mean Hulas. But you will be hard pressed to find a better bunch of pilots to fly with.
Reserve is not all that bad b/c like I said, many of our schedulers are not so bad. At least that is what I have experienced.

 

[millhouse21]

Yes it is. Airlinepilotpay.com, and the contract they have, which I have seen, has slightly higher FO pay for comparable equipment (jet). I do not know about the prop.

That's true. I'm a 2nd year jet FO and my pay rate in the same aircraft at mesa would higher. However, I take home more money than I would at mesa thanks to better work rules. For example, just having block or better adds 5-10 hours a month to my pay. Thanks United and IAD

 

[TSA ERJ]

acaTerry,
For jet FO, TSA is higher year one, Mesa is higher year two and then TSA is again higher years 3 and 4. The pay is the same for years 5 and 6, but their FO's do top out higher after year 7. All other TSA pay rates are higher in every category including the turboprops. TSA operates a 30 seat turboprop and they have 37 seats. Again this is comparing a 5 year old contract to an 18 month old contract. All of this information is from a direct comparison at airlinepilotpay.com

 

[rigger]

thanks

Many thanks to all the TSAers who replied, you guys have really given me a realistic look at the right seat in this company! Class starts on Monday about 9 or 10 of us I am told.

Company sounds just like a regional (imagine that) I must admit I am glad to be coming aboard with this pilot group. everyone I have heard from shows how tight a group you are.

Look forward to meeting all of you! Treat me gentle like

 

[acaTerry]

acaTerry,
For jet FO, TSA is higher year one, Mesa is higher year two and then TSA is again higher years 3 and 4. The pay is the same for years 5 and 6, but their FO's do top out higher after year 7. All other TSA pay rates are higher in every category including the turboprops. TSA operates a 30 seat turboprop and they have 37 seats. Again this is comparing a 5 year old contract to an 18 month old contract. All of this information is from a direct comparison at airlinepilotpay.com

Well I stand corrected. Either way, the pay still sux though.